I bring the perspective of a Second-Year Social Work and Women and Gender Studies Dual Major, who is determined to ensure that Social Work students are represented in the UWSA Board of Directors. As a Social Work student, I find it crucial that students have a director representing them that prioritizes their best interest, centering the well-being, respect, and safety of all students. I have been the Secretary of the Social Work Student Association since the 2024-2025 academic year. Within this position, I have developed skills that have significantly contributed to my ability and confidence within myself to speak out against injustices. As an executive member of the Social Work Student Association, I have firsthand experience representing Social Work students, whether this be through addressing and raising their concerns, answering their questions or finding answers for them. I have been and continue to be determined to be someone Social Work students can rely on for support and someone who is always keeping their best interest at the center of decision-making.

Within the Social Work program, one of the most critical issues students face is experiencing burnout. In the Social Work program, students are introduced to several pressing issues within society, these issues that can be extremely distressing, unsettling, and upsetting to hear about.

Social Work students must frequently challenge unjust ideas and barriers set up within, for example, welfare systems, justice systems, and day to day life. Students can quickly feel overwhelmed with the injustices they are learning about and trying to combat, especially when there is continuous push back against their efforts, leading to experiences of burnout. As the School of Social Work Director on the UWSA Board of Directors, I would ensure that resources are accessible to all Social Work students to support them, whether the students are on campus, at the School of Social Work, or practicing in their field education. I want Social Work students to be aware that there are people rooting for their success, and there to provide them with the support they need. I also want Social Work students to have access to opportunities to take a break and focus on their own well-being. I would advocate for promoting the resources available to Social Work students, and all students, so that these resources can be easily accessed.

I will ensure accountability as the UWSA School of Social Work Director by using the knowledge I have obtained so far in my degree, and will use the knowledge I continue to learn, as my UWSA By-Election 2025 5education progresses. I will use my education as well as the knowledge shared by my peers and professors to help inform any decisions, I assist in making, or ideas I bring to the UWSA Board of Directors. To be transparent, as the UWSA School of Social Work Director, I will always welcome students to come and chat with me and ask me questions. I want to be someone who Social Work students feel comfortable coming to talk to, I will always be approachable and will do my best to answer any questions students have. I always want to hear feedback from Social Work students and hear their opinions; I love learning from my peers. Please feel welcome to stop me if you see me, email me, or send me a message, my goal is to represent Social Work students justly. To ensure my decision-making is fair, I will not only consider the perspective I bring to the UWSA Board of Directors, but the perspective of all Social Work students, fellow Directors, and the students at the University of Windsor. I know that to make a fair decision I cannot only use my personal experiences and perspective.

The UWSA Board of Directors plays an essential and critical role in shaping the student experience at the University of Windsor. The UWSA Board of Directors role is to represent students by keeping their best interests at the center of all decision-making. When centering the best interests of the students, the UWSA Board of Directors considers how to improve the well-being and safety of all students. The UWSA Board of Directors has a significant impact on the atmosphere of the University of Windsor, ensuring that all students are heard, respected, and valued. I want to be a part of the Board of Directors to advocate for promoting the well-being of not just Social Work students, but all students. I want to ensure that there is someone emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all students are a part of a University where they feel respected and safe. I want to provide perspective that assists the UWSA Board of Directors in making the University of Windsor a welcoming atmosphere that has the resources to promote the well-being of all students and support students’ mental health. I want to be a part of the UWSA Board of Directors to ensure all students receive the respect and resources they need, without feeling alone or judged. I want to ensure that respect and resources are not something students have to search for, but that they are there for them from the start.